Try to buy what you need

The best way to avoid binning things is to not buy more than you need, or things you will end up throwing away.

Reusable bottles are a good alternative to single-use plastic bottles.

Buying loose fruit and vegetables rather than big bags can reduce food waste.

Spending a bit more on something which is built to last (if you can afford it) can save you money in the long run.

Can you fix it?

Sometimes when something in our home breaks, we may not have the skills to repair it ourselves, but it could still work if it was fixed. This can save you money and keep that item from going for scrap or recycling.

Repair cafes can help take broken things and give them a new lease of life.

Find a repair cafe

Find someone else to love it

You might not like it anymore, but someone else could find it very useful.

You could sell it second hand to make a small amount of the cost back.

Many towns and villages have ‘buy nothing’ groups on Facebook where you can give your items to someone who will use them.

Charity shops around the district will take a wide range of items from clothes to books, to toys and games that you might not want anymore.

The Samaritans run clothing banks across the district, where you can drop bagged clothing.  

If you are unable to take things to a charity shop or clothing bank, Anglo Doorstep Collections will take:

  • Clothes
  • Shoes
  • Books
  • CDs, DVDs and video games
  • Small electricals
  • Kitchenware
  • Toiletries
  • Linen and towels
  • Toys
  • Bags
  • Accessories
  • And more

You can bag things up and book a free collection with them. 

Visit the Anglo Doorstep Collections website

Recycle it

If you can’t find another way to keep your items in use, many things can be recycled.

At home

We can take paper and cardboard, plastic bottles, tins and cans and aerosols in your black recycling bin and glass bottles and jars in your glass box. 

What can (and can’t) go in your bins

At the tip

If you can’t put it in your recycling bin, you may still be able to take it to the Household Waste Recycling Centre, or back to the place you bought it, for recycling.

Book a slot at your HWRC

With the company you got it from

Some brands will take back old items to be repurposed or recycled.

Examples include:

With more companies looking to improve their sustainability, the list is growing.